Boiler-feed-water regulator.



J. w. LYTTON.

BOILER FEED WATER REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1911.

1,044,676. I Patented Nov. 19,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

c/anzral Zdjyttan QXJMMM BEST AVAILABLE COP Q1? FEANELIN, VIRGINIA,ASSIGNOH, 'IO LYTTON MANUFACTUR- VIRGINIA, A. COEEQRATION' OF VIRGINIA.

BOILER-FEED-WATEB BEGULATQE.

Elpeoiflcstion of Letters Ritent.

Patented Nov. 12%, iiiifi.

Application filed June 80, 1911. Serial No. 636,808.

2'0 all whom. it may concern:

Beit known that I, Janann W. LY'IION, a citizen of the United States,residing at Franklin, in the county of Southampton and State ofVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Feed-WaterRegulators, of which the following is a specification The presentinvention relates to feed water regulators for boilers, and has for itsobject to provide a regulator which will give a close control of thefeed from the supply, the arrangement being such that a very sensitiveaction of the remilator is secured and one which is equated within smallvariations.

The regulator which I have invented is of such character that it may bereadily installed inconnection with any type of boiler and any typeof'supply, and after installation will maintain. itseiiiciency for anindefinite period,'the cooperating parts being few and simple; and,tu'rthermore, since it does not depend for its operation on a closed orair tight float, the annoyance of punctured or corroded floats which areineffective since their buoyancy is destroyed, is done away with.Furthermore, the operation of the feed valveis" such that its -openingand closing movements are secured with but slight expenditu'reof powerand the annoyance of sticking'valves or valveswhich are difficult tooperate under variations in pressure between the supply side and thefeed side are done away with.

In the drawings which accomiany and torm a art of this'case, I have ilustrated one cmiodiment of-my invention. This showing is merelyillustrative and is in no sense restrictive, for itgwill be obvious onconsidcrationof this disclosure that the construction may be widelyvaried without departing from the principle, and all such'mechanicalexpedients would, of'course, fall withinthe range of my invention.

In these drawings-Figur'l is a central longitudinal section of aregulator-embodying the principles of m invention. Fig. 2 is an em viewlooking rom the left, Fi 1,."1. Fig. 3' tea cross sectional view on thedine 3-4305 Fig.1. Fig. at is an elevation of the regulator ands. steamboiler on a reduced scale showing the connection between the two.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like numbers illustrating likeparts in the several views, 2 denotes a closed chamber which may be veryproperly termed the float chamber since it contains the open toppedfioat 3, said open topped float being trunnioned in suitable bearings ina web or wall 4, which divides the chamber 2 into two parts, whichconnect only over the top oi? the wall 4. The trunnion support 5 for thefloat 3 may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the presentinstance being a transverse rocking shaft, one end of which projectsoutside of the casing 2, where it is connected with a handle 6 by meansof which the trunnion may be manually oscillated if desired. Thetrunnion 5 is connected with the float by means of a pipe connect-ion 7so that open communication is obtained from the float 3 through thetrunnion 5 into the chamber 2 on the other side of the wall l. Thiscommunicating pipe is shown in the present instance as made of twosections for purposes of adjustment, the section 8 being provided at itsforward end with a suitable valve stem connection such as the fork 9,which engages adjustable nuts 10 threaded to the valve stem.

The valve stem 11 drops through a head 12 in a piston chamber "formed inthe casing, which piston chamber contains a piston connected with thefeed valve proper 14, this piston and feed valve having a slight play onthe stem 11 between the stop nuts 15 and a preliminary pressure valve 16on the valve stem, the lower end of the stem dropping into an alincinentsocket in the bottom nut 17 From the foregoing it will be seen that therising and fallin movements of the float will reciprocate t e valve stem11 and opcr. or close the feed valve 14 according to thr direction ofmovement of the valve controlling float.

;The valve 14 controls a portin the feed pipe 18, said feed pipeconnecting at its supply end with a suitable pump or othe: supply (notshown), a nonwcturn (heel va vc 19 being placed in the feed pipe ti onthe supply side of the "feed valve 1 BEST AVAILABLE cos 11 At its otherend the said feed valve it delivers to the boiler so that when the feedvalve is open the feed water will pass from the supply by way of pipe 18past the feed valve 1 to the boiler.

in order that the control of the feed valve 14 may be automaticallydependent on the water level in the boiler, I connect the chamber 2 ononeside of the wall 4 with the boiler by means of a pipe 20, thisconnection 20 being made at a point just below the maximum or desiredwater line to be maintained in the boiler, that is to say the maximumwater line will be at or slightly above the top of said pipe, and sincethis connection'20 communicates with the interior'of the float 3 throughthe open trunnion pipes 7 and 8, it will be obvious that under equalpressure the same level will be maintained in the boiler and in thefloat 3. On the opposite or float side of the wall 4, I connect thechamber 2 with the boiler by means of a connection 21 which enters theboiler at the same level the pipe 20, and serves to maintain at theproper time, an equalization of pressure in the boiler and chamber.

it-h this construction, the o eration of the device is as follows: Letit e assumed that the boiler has just been filled to the maximum ordesired level, indicated by the line A with relation to the chamber2,thus covering the boiler ends of the pi es 2 and 21. Communication beingout o from the steam space of, the-boiler,-the steam in,

the chamber'2and pipe'21..will condense, to create a vacuum in theseparts which will immediately, fill with water from the boiler throughthe pipes and21',

i overflow into the fioat 3 and cause the latter to sink to the bottomof thechamber 2 as represented in Fig. 1, closing the feed water valve14;. The receptacle 2 will remain filled until sufficient evaporation inthe boiler has lowered the water level below theend of the pipe 21 whensteam will immediately pass into said receptacle and equalize thepressure therein with that in the boiler. llhe water in the float 3 andon the valve side of the chamber 2 will immediately fall to the level ofthewater in the boiler, while that on the float-side of the said chamberwill sink only. to the top of: the'iloat. The float being thuslightened, willrise in the substantlally constantvolume of water on thefloat side ,of,the chamber 2, which lifting of the float 3 will, throughthe trunnion connection with the feed valve 14,- open the feed valve andpermitthev pump or other supply to again dew liver to the boiler, andthis delivery will continue ,until the water in the boiler has reachedthe maximum or desired levelwhereupon steam will be cut off from thechamber 2, a vacuum formed, water once more fill the chamber, andoverflow the open topped float 3, sinking it. to its normal position andclosing the feed valve 14.

In order to balance the feed valve i l the piston 13 is provided. Thechamber of said piston communicates by means of assage 22, through thepiston chamber iiead' 12, with the valve side of the chamber 2, and isexposed on its under side to boiler pressure from the feed pipe 18, sothat no opposing pressures to disturb the movements in either directionof the float 3 and the feed valve are present, and in order that thesupply pressure coming from the pipe 18 on the supply side of the valve13 may be promptly balanced on both sides of the feed valve, thepreliminary valve 16 heretofore mentioned is provided, which preliminaryvalve has a slight initial movement as the float rises, or the trunnionlever is thrown down, said preliminary valve 16 permittin the supplypressure to flow through t e feed valve stem and above the piston 13,whereupon the feed valve is at once balanced, and but slight floatexertion is required to open it.

, From what has been said, it will be clear that fluctuations in theheight of water in the boiler will be slight, varying only from the top,or a slight distance above the top of the pipe connections 20 and 21 toa point just low enough to admit steam into said pipe 21, a heighteasily within one half an inch. With such a slight fall of water in theboiler. it is evident onlya small quantity of, cold'water canenter itateach operation ,of ;the regulator, thus producing a more eiiicient'and economical boiler, by reducing the quantity of fuelnecessary. tokeep it in proper working condition. a

It may sometimes 11 ppen that the valve and float should be manipulatedmanually, and it will be clearthat through the handle 6 on the trunnionstem this may be done regardlesslof the internal conditions in thechamber 2.

The chamber 2 will preferably be pro vided at a suitable place with anair cock 23 to relieve the chamber 2 from trapped air when the apparatusis started, and l preferably provide aswell a blow ofi conmotion 24,which will take care of the sediment which may collect from time to timewithin the chamber, and permit the parts to;.be kept in proper conditionand free from corroding.

Of course the regulator may be supported in vany suitable manner, but Ihave shown a hanger 25 secured to the bolt rim 26 of the chamber2 forsupporting the regulator in its proper relation.

For economy of construction and space I have formed the chamber 2 asshown in two parts, the float side of the chamber 2 being preferablycylindrical while the valve BEST AVAlLABLE CG?" side 21 of the chamberis, as shown, approximately rectangular and bolted to t e chamber 2, thefront of the valve casing 27 sloping downward to the boiler connection20 and being only of such width as will give a proper container for thevalve I arts.

What 1 claim is 1. A feed water regulator comprising two chambersconnected only at the top, an open float in one of said chambers adaptedto fill with water and discharge the same into the other chamber, aboiler feed-water connection, a valve controlling the same operated bythe movement of said float, and a connection from each of said chambersadapted to open into a boiler at such points as to be closed by wateragainst the passage of steam when the water rises to its maximum level.

2. A feed water regulator comprising a receptacle divided by a partitioninto two connected chambers, one of which is a float chamber, a steamconnection from the float chamber adapted to open into a steam boiler atsuch a point as to be closed by Water in the boiler to the passage ofsteam when said water reaches its maximum level a water connection fromthe other cham or adapted to 0 en into said boiler, a feed waterconnection forathe boiler, a valve in said feed water connection, and afloat in the float chamber adapted to open and close said valve.

3; In combination with a steam boiler, a ieedwater regulator comprisingareceptacle containing two connected chambers, one of which is a floatchamber, a steam connection from a boiler to said float'chamber adaptedto be closed by water in the boiler to the passage of steam when saidwater in the boiler rises to the maximum level, a connection between theother chamber and the boiler throu h which water from the boiler mayfill said receptacle when steam is cut oil from the float chamber andcondenses therein, a feed water connect-ion to the boiler, a valve insaid feed water connection, an open float in said float chamber adaptedto operate said valve by the rise and fall of the float due to thefilling with water and emptying of said receptacle.

4. n combination with a boiler, a feed water regulator comprising areceptacle divided by a partition into two connected chambers, one ofwhich is a float chamber normally filled with water nearly to the top, asteam connection between theofloat chamber and a steam boiler, a waterconnection between the other chamber and said boiler both connectionsadapted to be closed by water in the boiler to the passage of steam whensaid water in the boiler rises to the maximum level, whereby steam insaid receotacle condenses and the receptacle fills with water from theboiler, a feed water connection to said boiler, a valve in said feedwater connection, and an open float adapted to sink in the float chamberwhen the receptacle fills with water thereby closing the feed valve, andrise in the float chamber after discharging its contents outside thefloat chamber into the other chamber to open the feed valve when thesteam connection is opened by the lowering of the water level in saidboiler.

5. In combination with a steam boiler, a

feed water regulator comprising a receptm cle, a float chamber thereinopening at its top into said receptacle and normally filled with waternearly to the top, a water connection between a steam boiler and saidreceptacle, a steam connection between said float chamber and saidboiler, both connections adapted to be closed by water in the boilerwhen said water .in the boiler rises to maximum level, whereupon thesteam in the rece tacle condenses and the receptacle fills with waterfrom the boiler, a feed water connection to said boiler, a valve in saidfeed water connection, and an open floatadapted to fill and sink whenthe receptacle fills thereby closing said feed valve, and to empty andrise in said float chamber and open said valve upon the reiintrunce ofsteam into the receptacle when the water level insaid boiler falls. 6. Afeed water regulator comprising a receptacle divided into two chamberscommunicating only at the top, a connection from each chamber forattachment to a steam boiler at the maximum water level in said boiler,a feed water connection, a balanced valve controlling the feed waterconnection, an open float adapted to fill and sink contained within oneof said chambers, a hollow trunnioned float stem through which stem saidfloat empties at the proper time into the other chamber, and meansconnecting said float stem to the balanced valve for operating saidvalve.

7. A feed water regulator comprising a receptacle, a diaphragm thereindividing it into two chambers connected at the top, an open float in oneof said chambers adapted to fill and sink, a tubular stem connected tosaid float trunnioned in said diaphragm and opening into the otherchamber, a feed water connection for a boiler, a balanced valvecontrolling the feed water connection, means for causing said balancedvalve to operate through the movement of the float, and

a connection from each of said chambers adapted to open into the boilerat the maximum water level and to be closed against the passage of steamwhen the water rises to said level.

8. A feed water regulator comprising 1:. rece tacle divided into twochambers a diap ragm extending nearly to the top oi said receptacle, anopen float in one cliam- BEST AVAILABLE CUP ber adapted tof -fill anddischarge its contents into. the""other chamber, a balanced valvecontrolling the? admission of feed waterrto .a boiler, means connectingsaid valve to said float-and a connection from each chamber adapted toopen into the boiler at the maximum water line.

9. A feed water regulator comprising a receptacle, a diaphragm in saidreceptacle extending nearly to the top and dividin it into two connectedchambers, an open out in one chamber mounted on a tubular float stemtrunnionedin said diaphra m, said float adapted to rise to the top ofthe receptacle, fill and sink to the bottom of the same and dischargethrough said stem into the other chamber, a valve and a piston mount edon a common stem, a rod for operating said valve and piston passingthrough a passageway in said parts, a valve on said rod for closing saidpassageway and a stop also on said rod for permitting a slightindependent movement of said rod, means for connecting said float androd, and connecions from each chamber adapted to open into a boiler atthe maximum water level.

10. A. feed water regulator comprising a receptacle divided into twochambers connected at thetopof said receptacle, a valve casing throughwhich feed water passes adjacent one of said chambers, a balanced valvein said casing,'a rod for operating said valve in one direction passingthrou ha passageway therein into the adjacent c iamber, a preliminarypressure valve on said rod for closing said passageway, a limiting stopalso on said rod, a connection from said chamber adapted to open into aboiler at the maximum water line, an open float in the other chamberhaving a float stem trunnioned to permit movement of said float and madehollow to discharge water from the float into the chamber other thanthat containing the float, means connecting said float stem to said rodfor operating it, and a connection from the float chamber adapted toopen into the boiler at the maximum water level.

11. A feed water regulator com rising a receptacle divided 'into twochambers connected at the top of said receptacle, a float in one of saidchambers, a float stem trunnioned to permit rise and fall of said floatand made tubular to connect said float with the other chamber, a valvecasing forminga part of the feed water supplying means adjacent saidother chamber, a balanced valve in-said-valve casing operated by'saidfloat stem, and a preliminary pressure valve opy neaesve erative beforethe balanced valve to estab lish an equalizing pressure on said lattervalve.

12. A feed water regulator comprising a chamber normally containingwater at a substantially constant height, an open float in said chambercapable of being emptied and filled with water so that it may rise apredetermined distance in the water in the chamber, fill, and sinktherein, a second chamber into which the float empties connected at itstop to the first chamber, and means adapted to connect both chambers toa boiler at substantially its maximum water line whereby an equal waterlevel is maintained in the boiler, second chamber, and float, when thepressures in the boiler and receptacle are equal.

13. A feed water regulator comprising a chamber normally containingwater at a substantially-constant height, an open float in said chambercapable of being emptied and filled with water so that it may rise apredetermined distance in the water in said chamber, fill and sinktherein, a second chamber in communication at its top with the top ofthe first chamber into which seeend-chamber the float empties, a valvein the feed water supplying means, a balancin piston connected by a stemto said valve, a rod adapted to operate said valve and'slidable freelythrough a passageway in said valve piston and stem and provided witha-preliminary pressure valve for closing the passageway, and a stop, andmeans connecting said rod to the float for opening said valves.

' 14. A feed water regulator comprising two chambers connected at theirtops, an open float in one of said chambers, a hollow trunnioned valvestem connecting the float to the other chamber, a feed water supply, avalve casing forming a part thereof provided with a piston chamber, avalve in said casing, and a piston in the piston chamber connected tosaid valve, a passageway through the piston and valve, a preliminarypressure valve for closing said passageway, a rod with a stop connectedto the preliminary valve extending through the passageway, and meansconnecting said rod to the I open' float.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

J ARARD W. LYTTON. Witnesses:

EUNIoE WHITEHORNE, J. J. HENNassY.

capzieaei this patent may. he obtained for live cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner ct 'slatcnts, Washington, D. 0.

